World's Riskiest Cities: Kolkata Comes 7th

4. Osaka-Kobe, Japan:

The agglomeration of two cities, Osaka and Kobe, this megalopolis is another area that is at a combined risk from over one natural disaster.

More than three million people in Osaka-Kobe are risk of typhoons, which can cause huge wind damage.

Since the cities lie on the coast, 1.8 million people are exposed to tsunamis. However, those natural disasters pale in comparison to the danger posed to the area by earthquakes.

 It was the location of one of the most deadly tremors in history when on January 17 1995 a 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck the city. As the epicenter was just 12 miles away, the shockwaves caused massive damage.

Nearly 6,500 people died, with more than two thirds from Kobe. The quake caused around $100 billion in damage.

This third-most tsunami-prone city in the world is also susceptible to brutal storms and the risk of river flooding.

3. Pearl River Delta, China:

A large area of land on the Chinese Pacific coast, The Pearl River Delta includes both Hong Kong and Macau.

It is extremely densely populated, and is home to over 42 million people. It is the third riskiest urban community in the world in terms of the population that would be affected by natural catastrophes.

In this place, typhoons are a common occurrence, battering the delta with high winds and heavy rains. There is also the potential for severe coastal and river flooding, and on top of all these, the Pearl River Delta lies in an earthquake zone.

 In September 2013, Typhoon Usagi has worn out the region with 110mph winds, killing at least 25 people and affecting 3.5 million.

ALSO READ:
7 Riskiest Cities Vulnerable to Earthquake